Filing device



n. A. BRENNAN 2,336,061

FILING DEVICE Original Filed June 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l .[JVVEN TUE.

Dec. 7, 1943.

FILING DEVICE Original Filed June 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flA/V/ZZ AEmma/1 I 17555451217,

D. A. BRENNAN 2,336,061

Patented Dec. 7, 1943 FILING DEVICE Daniel A. Brennan, deceased, late ofChicago, 111.,

' by Elmer L. Zwickel, executor, Chicago, 111., as-

signor to Acco Products,

Inc., Long Island City,

N. Y4, a corporation of New York Original application June 21, 1939,Serial No.

280,267. Divided and this application 1942, Serial No. 3 9,694 7 15Claims.

This application is a division carved out of application Serial No.280,267, filed June 21, 1939, now Patent-No. 2,280,184, dated April 21,1942.

The invention relates to improvements in fastening devices and moreparticularly to paper fasteners including means to detachably secure thebase thereof to file folder or backing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a paper fastener base,of a type having bendable sheet receiving prongs, with novelly formedmeans to co-act with novel means on a file folder or backing todetachably secure a file of sheets carried on said base to the backing;said means consisting of interengaging parts arranged to keep theassembly a minimum thickness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a base of the type adaptedto be mounted in a file folder or backing with means to hold the boundsheets spaced from the mounting to facil itate association anddisassociation of the parts without damaging the sheets.

Another object is to provide novelly constructed paper fastener basesandfile mounting means which are inexpensive to make, simple to operate,and highly eflicient in use.

Another object is to provide a fastener of the character described whichdoes not materially increase the thickness of the file.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will more fullyappear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readilyunderstood from a perusal of the following specification, inwh-i'chreference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener showing its base attachedtoa'portion of a file folder or backing.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the folder showing the fastenermounting member thereon.

Fig.8 is a perspective view of the base illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mounting member, taken online 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of fastener base,shown in partial section.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental View, in perspective, of another modification.

Fig. 9' is a fragmental perspective view of another m'o-difle'd form ofthe invention.

Fig. 10* is a; fragmental perspective View of another modification.

April 20,

Fig. 11 is a view, in perspective, of a fragment of anothermodification.

Throughout the description, like numerals identify corresponding parts.

The compressor ll, shown in Fig. 1, is illustrative of many types ofcompressors available for prong fasteners and may consist of anelongated strap of stiff material having latches l2 movablelongitudinally to hold prongs l3 of an associated base member l4 bentover the compressor after said prongs have been passed throughregistering holes in a sheaf of papers (not shown) and apertures l5 inthe compressor. In the structures illustrated, the base members I4 areformed to co-operate with a mounting member Hi to facilitate readyattachment to a folder or backing sheet A.

In the specific embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, theinterlocking formation on the mounting member It may consist of alongitudinally extending rib II, which tapers in crosssection from thetop of the rib to the body of the mounting member, forming a rib ofsubstantially dove-tailed cross-section, as best shown in Fig. 5. Thus,the vertically inclined walls of the rib l1 slant inwardly toward thebody of the mounting member l6 forming retaining grooves for slidablyengaging the complementary parts I 8 of the base la.

The base l4 isprovided with a complementary longitudinally extending ribl9, of dove-tailed cross-section, having inwardly inclined side walls l8for interlocking with the rib ll of the mounting member. In use, thebase member, with or without an attached sheaf of papers, is arranged atone end of the mounting member and then slid longitudinally to engagethe mounting member rib I! in the under side of rib iii. The uppersurface of the base rib [9 forms a bearing surface for one side of thesheaf of papers which are secured together by means of the prongs I3.

Suitable tangs 2! preferably are provided on the mounting member It topierce the backing A for securing said mounting member in place. One orboth ends of the longitudinally extending ribs of the mounting memberand of the base preferably are provided with complementary depressionsand projections 22 and 23 located to engage with each other to retainthe parts against free sliding movement, but the projection 23 isadapted to be cammed out of one of the corresponding depressions by theapplication of force exerted longitudinally.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the prongs [3 areformed of the extended ends of a metal strip 24, which is a separateelement from an attaching member Ma, similar in form to the base I4 justdescribed. The intermediate portion of the strip 24 is confined betweenthe mounting member Ilia and the interlocking attaching member Ma,either of which 'parts may be provided with interlocking depressions andprojections 22, 22a and 23, 23a, respectively.

In [4d the embodiments and 9, the bases Nb and Ma are provided withtransversely and upwardly projecting flanges 25, which are adapted togreatly increase the area of bearing surface of the base over that ofthe proceeding forms. In these devices the flanges 25 also serve toprevent undue tearing out of the bottommost paper in the sheaf. In thedevice shown in Fig. 9, the base has a downwardly projectinglongitudinally extending dove-tailed rib l9a,"and the mounting member Ithas upwardly and inwardly extending co-extensive flanges 26 struck outof the body of the mounting member to provide a slidable interlockingconnection between said mounting member and the base.

Referring to Fig. 10, the interlocking sliding formations in thismodified form comprise relatively narrow re-inforcing ribs 27-2111,which also taper in cross-section from the top of the rib toward thebody of the mounting member IS. The tops of the ribs 21a, on the baseMe, provide surface for the sheaf of papers and accordingly hold saidsheaf above the plane of the mounting member. a

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11, the base I40 is formed likethat of Fig. 10, except that the ribs 27a project from the bottom facthereof to define a longitudinal channel in the bottom face of the base.The mounting member I 6 is of a form similar to that of Fig. 9, exceptthat the flanges 26a are curled outward to engage the opposed faces ofthe ribs.

It will thus be observed that a plurality of illustrated in Figs. 8

7 forms of fastening devices are provided which may be economicallymanufactured and which include provisions for detachably securing thebindingor fastening device to a backing sheet or file. The bound sheafof papers may be readily removed from the file for use or for placing inanother file without disarranging the papers, and the bound papers maybe as easily replaced in the file by properly locating the interlockingformations on the mounting member l6 and the base Hand sliding onemember relative to the other.

Although various exemplary forms and adaptatlons of improved deviceshave been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and. described indetail in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood; that,said illustrations and description are illustrative rather thanrestrictive; and that, eachdevice may vary in structural details withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably binding a.plurality of sheets having a pronged base portion, at least onelongitudinal rib in said base portion substantially dove-tailed incross-section, a mounting member, and means on said mounting memberco-extensive with the rib side walls to co-operatively engage at leasttwo of said side walls to detachably connect and retain said base insuperposed relation on said mounting member.

dove-tailed in section, a

detachably binding a plurality of sheets having a pronged base portion,a longitudinal channel in the bottom face of said base portionsubstantially mounting member, and means on said mounting member tobindingly enage said channel when said base is seated on one face of themounting member and detachably connect and retain said base insuperposed relation on said mounting member.

3. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably binding aplurality of sheets having a base portion provided with a longitudinalsubstantially dove-tailed channel in its bottom face, and a mountingmember having upwardly and outwardly inclined longitudinal wall portionsfor engaging in said channel when said fastener is slid longitudinallyover one face of said mounting member to detachably connect and retainsaid base in superposed relation on said mounting member.

4. A paper fastener including a pronged base having a longitudinalchannel extending from 7 end to end, said channel being substantiallydove- 2. A filing device, comprising a fastener for 7 tailed incross-section and adapted to have a binding-wedging engagement withmeans on an associated mounting member.

5. A paper fastener including a pronged-base having at least onelongitudinal channel extending from end to end, said channel beingsubstantially dove-tailed in cross-section and adapted to have abinding-wedging engagement with means on an associated mounting member.

6. A paper fastener base comprising a substantially elongated strip ofmaterial having a bendable prong at each end and a longitudinal channelin its bottom face terminating at said prongs,

said channel being dove-tailed in cross-section.

7. A member for detachably securing a paper fastener base to abackingsheet comprising an elongated piece of stifi" sheet material, tangsstruck downwardly from the body of said strip for securing the member tosaid backing sheet, and a longitudinal rib struck out of said membermidway between its longitudinal edges having its side walls inclinedupwardly and outwardly to frictionally and bindingly co-operate with afastener base to detachably connect and retain said base in superposedrelation-on said mounting member. 7

8. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably binding aplurality of sheets having a pronged base portion, a longitudinal rib insaid base portion substantially dove-tailed in cross-- section, amounting member, and means on said mounting member to co-operativelyengage the side walls of said rib to detachably connect and retain saidbase in superposed relation on said mounting member.

9. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably binding aplurality of sheets having a pronged base portion, a longitudinalchannel in the bottom face of said base portion substantiallydove-tailed in section, a mounting member, and means on said mountingmember to bindingly engage the inside face of the channel side wallswhen said base is seated on one face of the mounting member anddetachably connect and retain said base in superposed relation on saidmounting member.

10. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably binding aplurality of sheets having a base portion provided with a longitudinalsubstantially dove-tailed channel in its bottom face, a mounting memberhaving upwardly and outwardly inclined longitudinal Wall portions forengaging in said channel when said fastener is slid longitudinally overone face of said mounting member to detachably connect and retain saidbase in superposed relation on said mounting member, and interlockingmeans on said base and said member to retard separation of the parts.

11. A paper fastener base comprising a substantially elongated strip ofmaterial having a bendable prong at each end, and a longitudinal channelin its top face terminating at said prongs, said channel beingdove-tailed in cross-section.

12. A paper fastener base comprising a substantially elongated strip ofmaterial having a bendable prong at each end, an axial longitudinalchannel in said base terminating at the prongs, said channel beingdove-tailed in cross-section, and the longitudinal margins of said basebeing elevated above the bottom plane of the channel.

13. A mounting member and base for a paper fastener comprising asubstantially elongated strip of material having a medial portion and abend-able prong portion at each end, an attaching member having alongitudinal channel to receive said medial portion, said channel beingdovetailed in cross-section, a mounting member, and means on saidmounting member to co-operatively engage in said channel to detaohablyconnect and retain the attaching member in superposed relation on saidmounting member and secure the strip in place.

14. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably'binding aplurality of sheets having a pronged base portion, a longitudinalchannel in the top face of said base portion substantially dove-tailedin section, a mounting member, and means on said mounting member tobindingly engage the outside face of the channel side walls when saidbase is seated on one face of the mounting member and detachably connectand retain said base in superposed relation on said mounting member. a

15. A filing device, comprising a fastener for detachably binding aplurality of sheets having a base portion provided with a longitudinalrib in its bottom face, and a mounting member having upwardly andinwardly inclined longitudinal wall portions for embracing said rib whensaid ias- V tener is seated on one face of said mounting member anddetachably connecting and retaining said base in superposed relation onsaid mounting member.

ELMER L. ZWICKEL. Executor of the Estate of Daniel A. Brennan,

Deceased.

